We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Portia Riggins. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Portia below.
Portia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of the toughest things about entrepreneurship is that there is almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?
The business of entrepreneurship has been up-and-down for me. Voyage Austin seen me at the beginning of my tax business career where I was very excited, motivated, and optimistic for the future that was ahead of me. I still am! Very grateful overall. All successful businesses go through changes and growth spurts. That’s currently the stage I’m in when it comes to my tax firm that I started. I am in a stage of unknown, and that’s just me being very transparent. However, I also know that I am very confident that success will take lead. This is the perfect time frame for me to tell my story, and I’m grateful that viewers are interested in my story! I’m so excited to follow back up with you guys, and let you know what I been up to.
As you know, some may be new to knowing: that my career started early as far as being engaged with modeling, public relations, event coordinating, customer service, service industry, Jet Beauty of The Week in Jet Magazine (Ebony), former Miss Capital of Texas USA, business student with new found concentration in finance and more. I’ve always had a passion to learn and challenge myself plus yearn to obtain more than one source of income while staying vibrant yet creative. I’ve seen many things through the years of my growth in different industries, and currently still learning new trades to this blessed life we are given. I even opened my schedule up to doing radio personality interviews for a platform called Hip Hop Weekly Radio making sure that I bring awareness to my start up E-ffordable Tax on the air ways as well.
One of my most recent unexpected problems which most aren’t vocal about is something that’s been heavy on me, and why not be honest with the supporters of my community. Voicing my experiences can possibly help the next person looking to win in a lane they are passionate about. I know this won’t be the only issue I deal with, but this one I’m open to being honest about to my fellow achievers. Honestly, when it come to E-ffordable Tax I’ve been so focused on outside competitors to my new tax firm such as how to defeat their pricing, and their quality, and service not realizing that I needed to dive further into understanding the league of business I’m in. I built a clientele within the community, but still haven’t yet reached the numbers I was optimistic about for the first year publicly in business. Ultimately, I did gain clients and help a non profit organization become believers in helping the community this route! Yes, I gained more clientele than I started off with, but I came to realize recently I may of loss one of my biggest attributes of last year season. One of my main leading tax expert has learned, and gained the tools to start her own tax firm, and now we’re technically competitors. It was a surprising finding because I thought we would be together at least 4 more years. I’m happy for her success of becoming better through our relationship of growth, but it’s bittersweet. I’m in need of doing major hiring for the firm so that I can keep the same community goals, and vision as I had when I was new to the industry. I have to keep that momentum alive to survive any pitfalls. Definitely each industry has its own issues and problems, but it’s how we rise from them. This is the stage I’m in! Helping my self to understand it’s about the perspective of how I look at things, and be aggressive with finding solution. I’ll also leave you with gems of what I learned from many industries I’ve been in, it’s so important to get written agreements before all business ventures signed and sealed. Being a professional comes with many hats, but stay in uniform!
I’m an Austin Texas native that comes from low income neighborhood, anything is possible! Therefore, stay informed, knowledgable, continue to be open to learning. Don’t forget to “Keep Going” as I mentioned in the other article. Keep the Faith! Yes winning financially is an ultimate goal of mine, also being true to who I am as a Child of God, and my conscious is my main goal. Keeping my mental, and spiritual right is important key for me to strive for greatness. I pray that everyone’s mental, spiritual foundations are healthy and shine bright.
Stay blessed my people, and lets’ be great! I’ve met so many successful individuals that are thriving in Austin, and sometimes I wonder what’s their formula! I am a fan of the greatness in people, but I also know my story is different so my blessings will come differently in form. I will achieve all that I set out in true desire, may we all have a great destiny. Yes, I pray that we all do!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My brand includes myself of course! Hi, I’m Portia Riggins for those who are just becoming aware of me! I do see myself as my own brand because I am versatile. My style one day is very conservative, and the next I maybe in the latest fashion with my hair-styled or even colored to my mood. I’m a true Austinite! Keeping things the Austin way! In a world where we can be anyone, be yourself. Beauty x Brains! You can’t put me in a box, I love being true to myself, I give my supporters the authentic me, and the realness. I’m always willing to learn what I don’t know, and advance myself to learn more. Many of my friends see me as a visionary, or even a hidden gem that is excitingly being discovered. A great reason I receive great energy back is that the people are clear in understanding the clear lines of each brand I help build in support are their own name, and have their own solid foundation. Ultimately, I do think everyone deserves loves, and even a hug. Embracing who I am is my mission, and expanding it to new heights on my blessed journey. If I don’t have the answer, I can discover it or I know the best referrals that does! One of the many hats I wear is that I have ventured into my own start up which is called E-ffordable tax, a tax business located in Austin Texas that gives tax information via virtual services, and we have provided in-person services. We’ve collaborated with nonprofit organizations, and worked directly within our own community. The company has also supported many activists, events, leaders, and the city of Austin as a whole with our few years of being established.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Understanding, that only with time my clientele will grow. Having patience to stay the course is important. Simply keep going! Keep executing, and checking off each to do list. Learning tactics to help your formula and routine. Engaging in many market tactics has been key to growing my clientele alone via social media, guerrilla marketing, referrals and word of mouth. A mentor of mine in the accounting field allowed me to know that his clientele through the years drastically grew through word of mouth and no advertising. Knowing the possibilities are limitless. This aware me that only with time, that I may see the results I aspire to achieve. Also, putting in the real work to make it happen!
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Staying true to my business plan has helped me be clear with what exactly I am building in this market, and it also helps build a reputable reputation. Staying true to my vision, goals, plan, and mission has been a precise indication of what helps my longterm goals follow suit. People like myself respect when others stay true to their word at the end of the day, that alone solidifies a respectable reputation. At least for me, as a customer to many businesses in my community I know that in order for me to be a buyer I must know that the actions of the business correlates with what’s displayed from the business. At least, give the viewers an opportunity to decide if this is the best suit for them. Once customers identify with the company they soon will be a regular customer, they’ll be there for the long run with any endeavor. I’m huge on honesty, and being clear/transparent with my community goers whether there is a shift or growth in the company. That works for me, always have in any field.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://calendly.com/effordabletax
- Instagram: @effordabletax, @portiari
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/effordabletax , https://www.facebook.com/portia.riggins/, https://www.facebook.com/quickwitted.pioneer,
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/portia-riggins-02991953 , www.linkedin.com/in/e-ffordable-tax-b4b914200
- Twitter: @effordabletax, @portiari, @whatmodelswant
- Youtube: @PortiaRi
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/e-ffordable-tax-llc-austin
- Other: https://calendly.com/portiariggins
Image Credits
Photographer: Lee Martin Photography @lmartinphotography01 supported by: @whatmodelswant